Friday contd, Burrell Collection

The Burrell Coloection, which contains a staggering 9,000 works of art, was gifted to the City of Glasgow by Sir William Burrell, a shipping magnate, in 1944.  Burrell specified that the building be situated a distance from the polluted centre and it took some time to find a venue.  It was not till 1967, nine years after the philanthropist's death, that the Macdonald family gifted Pollok House to the city.  It was agreed that this was the perfect location and an architectural competition was launched.  This resulted in the iconic building which houses the collection and has been open since 1983.  

The collection is as varied as it is extensive.  There are artefacts from China and the Islamic world as well as European art, architecture , sculpture and tapestry from over the centuries.  I enclose personal favourties starting with the gothic entrance.  

Below is a portal from Hornby Castle, the home of Burrows in Yorkshire.  It is early 16th century and looks great in the 20th century building.  

The Collector's Daughter, The Untold Burrell Story by Sue Stephen examines the troubled relationship of the Burrell's with their only daughter, whose disinheritance was the gain of Glasgow.